A laser focused Brandon Bell on his return to competitive action, served his way to the “B” class title in the Forbes Burnham Memorial table tennis tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), late Friday evening.
Bell, a former junior national player, defeated junior maestro Jonathan Van Lange 3-1 to lift the title.
It was Van Lange who began the match with much intensity to take an early 8-3 lead. He fended off a late push from Bell to draw first blood by taking the first set 11-8. However, the match veered Bell’s way who appeared as though he invested the first set to get a feel of Van Lange’s playing style; dominating the second set, leading 9-3 before coasting home 11-6.
It was tied at 5-5 in the third set before Bell took it 11-6 to earn a 2-1 lead. Bell, a southpaw, completed the championship run by winning the fourth set 11-7.
The eventual winner, defeated Niran Bissu 11-8, 12-10, 13-11 in the semifinal. His most challenging match of the evening came against his fellow lefty Isiah Layne who pushed him to five sets before he clung on for a 3-2 win. Van Lange, on the other hand, had the better of his training partner Kirstian Sahadeo 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8 in his semi final win. Sahadeo, however, won the hearts of many after his spirited 3-2 quarterfinal win over an animated Devon Richmond.
The 21-years-and-under title went to Van Lange who rebounded from his “B” class final loss the night before by stomping his way past the improving Layne 3-1
It was a measured showing by the swiftly rising 12-year old who won took the first two sets 11-8, 11-3 before Layne won the third 12-10. His success, however, was prematurely ended as Van Lange took the fourth set and the match 11-4 to take the 2019 crown.
Van Lange in his semi-final match, defeated Vicente Henry 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 while Layne downed Kaysan Ninvalle 11-7, 12-10, 11-4.
Meanwhile, the “C” class title went to Abdool Akeem Rahim who defeated Isaiah Sahadeo 11-1, 11-8, 11-4 to clinch his title.
